​In case you thought dance was easy. Steps and combos come after technique is learned. There is a lot to think about, learn and put into your brain. Dance is very mental.
(These are what we work on in class)
Turn out from the tops of your legs.
Tummy in, tail bone down
Pinch your seat, turnout your feet
Your foot is a tripod, keep your big toe and your little toe on the floor
75% of your weight should be over the ball of the foot
Hips under the shoulders
Square your hips
Lift the chest, Show your necklace
Close your front (rib cage)
Open your back (shoulder blades)
Ears back
Shoulders down
Chin level
Spot where you are going
The head is the last to leave and the first to arrive
Stretch your whole leg
Articulate the foot (heel, arch, ball (demi), point)
Feel the floor when you Tendu
Lift the arch and don’t roll in
Use the muscles on the top of your foot when pointing, do not curl your toes
Press your heel forward, use the muscles on the inside of your foot
Lengthen the big toe
Pull up with the inner thigh
Gluts pulled up, pinch your seat
Straighten your knees
Make long arms
 
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Lengthen your fingers
The eyes follow the hands (do not look at them)
Use resistance
Elbows front and shoulders back
Arm pits over the front of the waist
Open your arm pits
Twist your wrist and lift the elbows
All jumps begin and end in plié
Jump with your thighs not your arms
Use your Plié, use your plié, use your plié
Use your imagination
Be expressive
Feel the music
All of the above is just “posture”. There is more to learn as to the actual steps, movements, and combinations. What arm placements to use, when to tilt or turn the head, where to travel to, directions of the stage, feelings of expression etc, etc.
With enough training and constant practice, all of this becomes natural, and dance can be done full out. It takes devotion!
 
 
 
 
 

Dance class in a typical dance school is not about learning routines. It is learning the HOW. Technique, posture, training the muscles, learning to use space and how to coordinate with others, come way before the routines should be taught. One learns how to dance first. Students train the muscles and the brain. So much so, that later they can dance with expression while having all the rest applied automatically. The beginning of the season is just as important as the end.​ It takes commitment and regular attendance. And yes, it takes years. This is where the rewards are felt.
 
Same as any sport, if a person jumps into a class of trained dancers, they will feel uncomfortable and not be able to keep up. Entering a class level that is more than the dancer has trained for will get bad results, no matter how much the dancer “tries” because they will not have instant use of the muscles in the correct form. Anyone can learn to dance and memorize steps. A dancer learns the HOW!
 
A dancer trains to apply the correct form for that style of dance. Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop all use the body in different manners. This takes practice, commitment, and regular attendance to class.

When a teacher comes into class and immediately teaches routines, they are doing a disservice to the student (your child). Would you want your child to be put into a Baseball or Basketball game without practice, or without first learning how to hold a bat, or how to dribble the ball? The answer is no. Not only would they have a difficult time, but it would lead to injuries.

Dance class is much more than learning steps. It is a progression of learning HOW to dance. Shows and routines are the reward for all the hard work leading up to it. Begin from the beginning, not the end.

​Dance class is about more than learning steps. Students learn posture, alignment and how to move gracefully before learning the dance steps and combos. The right dancewear allows the teacher a full view of the dancer’s posture and use of muscles.
 
 A dark colored leotard against pink or tan tights shows hip alignment. Short sleeves and spaghetti straps allow the teacher to see the shoulders and back for postural corrections. Light color tights give the teacher a view of the leg muscles, knee alignment and use of the ankle.
 
Having hair air up is important for balance and spotting during turns. The hair should be fixed flat against the head. Your teacher needs to see your ears and shoulders for corrections.

Shoes are a dancer’s instrument. They must fit snug. Do not expect them to last the season. You will probably need to replace them half way through the season. Ballet slippers should be pliable and show the outline of the toes. A teacher needs to see if a student is clenching their toes or properly spreading them. Young dancers need a full sole shoe so that they learn to work the muscles of the sole. Split sole shoes should be worn in a higher level when the dancer’s foot has developed. Young dancers also need a little wiggle room at the toes so that they can learn to spread their toes when rising up and pushing off the floor. When a dancers reaches their teens and the feet are done growing shoes need to be tighter so the dancer can feel the floor and move with ease.

 
Tap shoes need a quality cleat with a good sound. Cheap Tap shoes have cleats that don’t have enough sound, scratch the dance floor, and leave black residue on the floor. Tap shoes must fit snug enough so that the toe is over the front cleat. The shoe needs to easily bend at the ball of the ball of the foot without pulling off the heel. Therefore, your teacher will probably ask you to purchase a certain brand that fulfills all these requirements.
 
And, the right dancewear instills discipline, respect for class,  and helps the student to feel like a dancer. 

​1. Etiquette
Arrive on time.
Don’t lean on barre, always turn towards the barre.
Be polite, do not invade another’s space.
Wait until an exercise is finished before entering the room.
Wear the proper dancewear for your subject. No jewelry.  
Between exercises focus on what you just performed, do not stop and play or talk.
Put out a full effort, don’t mark the steps.
2. Discipline
Practice at home improves strength and builds muscles and memory. It must be done to advance and achieve goals.
3. Patience  
 You won’t learn everything the first time. Learning to dance is a process. Take your time, practice and keep trying until you get it right!
4. Concentration & Effort
Dancers must focus on what is being said, otherwise they will miss the steps. A dancer learns to ignore distractions to process the combination and memorize it.
5. Good posture & Coordination
Dancers apply many rules of posture and become aware of how their body feels. They must know how to use certain muscles, how to align the body, and be aware of weight placement.
6. An appreciation for classical music
Repetition of exercises to classical music becomes a part of your memory and brings on feelings of pleasure. This lasts a lifetime.
7. Team work
You know that you must be at class for patterns and line changes to be done properly. As a part of a group your place in line is important. When one person is missing, it is difficult for the class to learn the timing and spacing for certain combinations.
8. How to take corrections.  
Accept corrections for what they are, not criticism, but a learning and growing tool.  It’s okay to make mistakes.
9. Respect
 Dancers take turns across the floor &wait  quietly while others are dancing. Respect for class means arriving on time, focusing and being quiet in class.
10.  Stage presence & self confidence
All of the above train the dancer to be sure and proud of themselves. Performing in front of an audience is fun and builds self-confidence.